Union Health Minister has launched a nationwide expansion of Pneumococcal 13-valent Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) under the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP).

Why such drive?

• Pneumonia was a leading cause of death among children under five, globally and in India.
• Pneumonia caused by pneumococcus is the most common cause of severe pneumonia in children.
• Around 16% of deaths in children occur due to pneumonia in India.
• The nationwide roll-out of PCV will reduce child mortality by around 60%.

Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV)

• The PCV is a mix of several bacteria of the pneumococci family, which are known to cause pneumonia—hence ‘conjugate’ is included in the name of the vaccine.
• PCV prevents pneumococcal disease. It can protect both children and adults from pneumococcal disease.
• Such conjugate vaccines are made using a combination of two different components.

Pneumonia vs Pneumococcal pneumonia

• Pneumonia is a lung disease.
• Pneumococcal pneumonia, a kind of pneumonia, can infect the upper respiratory tract and can spread to the blood, lungs, middle ear, or nervous system.
• Pneumococcal disease is a name for any infection caused by bacteria called Streptococcus pneumonia or pneumococcus.
• Most people carry pneumococcus in their nose and throat, where the bacteria do not cause any symptoms.

Take this yorker from CSP 2020:

Q.What is the importance of using Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines in India?

1. These vaccines are effective against pneumonia as well as meningitis and sepsis.
2. Dependence on antibiotics that are not effective against drug-resistant bacteria can be reduced.
3. These vaccines have no side effects and cause no allergic reactions.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

 

Post your answers here.

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